Miniature rose plant named ‘BENfebu’

ABSTRACT

‘BENfebu’ is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant primarily identified by its dark red flowers and petals of flushed white reverse, of hybrid tea form. There is little fade to the color of the flowers. Borne mostly in small clusters of 3 to 4, there are enough borne singly to use for exhibition cut flowers. The plant is upright, well branched and vigorous, clothed in dark green semi-glossy foliage.

CROSS REFERENCE

The present invention bares some resemblance to ‘BENmjul’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/035,940 filed Dec. 21, 2001, abandoned) from the same breeding program with which it shares some of the same parentage. More specifically, the seed parent of this new invention is ‘BENfig’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,020) which is a cross of ‘Rise 'n' Shine’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,231) by ‘Laguna’ (not under patent protection) and the seed parent of ‘BENmjul’ is ‘BENjen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,857) which is a cross of ‘Party Girl’ (U.S. Plant Pat No. 4,598) by ‘Laguna’ and further that the seed parent of ‘Party Girl’ is ‘Rise 'n' Shine’. Both cultivars have dark red buds and flowers of similar size and petal count on upright, well-branched plants. There are 2 primary differences between BENmjul and the new cultivar. The new cultivar has more of its dark red flowers borne in clusters and that the reverse of these petals is flushed with white while on ‘BENmjul’ the dark red flowers are borne mostly singly on longer stems and the reverse of its petals is only a slightly lighter shade of red. Additionally, the anthocyanin coloration of the stems and foliage is mostly absent on this new invention while it is strong on BENmjul.

Genus and species: Rosa hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘BENfebu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy, bush type plant of the miniature rose class and with exhibition form, the primary objective of this breeding program. This new variety is from a single seedling created in a greenhouse in Englishtown, N.J. by crossing the following two rose plants:

The seed parent is ‘BENfig’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,020).

The pollen parent is an unnamed, unintroduced miniature rose (not patented) which was a cross of ‘KINfancy’ (not patented) by ‘BENblack’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,925).

This present invention bares resemblance to its seed parent, BENfig (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,020), with a similar bud shape and petal count and size. The differences between those two plants are that the flowers of this new invention are a dark red with a lighter reverse as compared to light pink flowers with a lighter reverse on the seed parent and this new invention has a more compact plant habit. The primary trait from its pollen parent is its red coloring.

Asexual reproduction by cuttings of this new variety in Englishtown, N.J. and Rowley, Mass. shows that all distinguishing characteristics of this rose continually come true to form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy dwarf bush type rose plant of the miniature class; the variety being primarily characteristized—as to novelty—by it's small, hybrid tea form, dark red blooms flushed white on the reverse.

The variety is further characterized by:

-   -   An abundance of these flowers borne mostly in small clusters of         3 or 4 but also singly     -   Semi-glossy foliage     -   A slight rose fragrance     -   A plant which has good vigor, is upright and well branched.     -   A plant which grows and blooms satisfactorily both in the         greenhouse and outdoors; provides decoration as a garden         perennial, specimen plant or in large containers and is good for         cut flowers and exhibition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing is two color photographs of buds, flowers and foliage of this new variety in different stages of development.

The larger photograph was taken in February in San Luis Obispo County in California from specimens grown in an open-roof greenhouse (no covering by day).

The inset photograph, showing a typical hip, was taken in October in Essex County, Mass. from plants grown under plastic.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Following is a detailed description in outline form pertaining specifically to this new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant as observed during the summer months at between 4 and 5 years of age grown in Essex County, Mass. in an 8 inch standard nursery container in a peat moss and perlite based soilless mixture with a constant liquid feed program at an unknown amount below optimum levels; in a plastic covered greenhouse with climatic controls limited to a hot air furnace and only fan and vent cooling, allowing for great fluctuations in temperature, seasonally, as is typical under such conditions in New England. All major color plate identifications made are referring to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where common terms of color definition are employed.

-   Genus/species: Rosa hybrida ‘minima’. -   Varietal denomination: ‘BENfebu’. -   Commercial class: Miniature Rose. -   Seed parent: ‘BENfig’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,020). -   Pollen parent: A seedling which was a cross of ‘KINfancy’ (not     patented) by ‘BENblack’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,925).

FLOWERS

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent. -   Borne: Mostly in small clusters of 3 or 4 flowers, but also singly. -   Bud:     -   -   Size.— 11/16 to 15/16 of an inch in length and ½ in diameter             at the widest point just before the sepals divide.         -   Form.—Narrow ovate.         -   Sepals.—Color — an olive green, near 146B and inside surface             lighter, near 147C and with 147B along the margins of the             interior. Size — 1 to 1 1/16 inch long and 5/16 inch wide             excluding any foliation; extending ½ to ¾ inch beyond the             tip of the bud just before they start to divide.             Characteristics — lanceolate; 2 innermost sepals with smooth             edges and the 3 outermost sepals are very finely beaded with             1 to 3 narrow, foliar appendages on one or both edges;             rolling back first to a 90 degree angle with the receptacle;             as the petals start to unfurl, rolling back almost to the             stem and as the hip forms and matures returning to and             remaining at a 90 degree angle with the receptacle. Surface             texture — inside surface pubescence; the outer surface is             glabrous.         -   Peduncle.—Length — averaging ⅞ inch. Diameter — most often             7/64 inch, occasionally only 6/64 inch. Aspect — straight.             Strength — strong, erect. Color — yellow green, near 144B,             anthocyanin coloration absent. Texture — usually with a             medium amount of stiff hairs.         -   Receptacle.—Diameter — about 5/16 inch. Color — near 144A.             Texture — glabrous.         -   Color.—When sepals first divide — a medium red, near 57B. -   Bloom:     -   -   Size.—When fully expanded — most often 2 inches across and ⅞             inch deep measured from the top of the receptacle; diameter             and depth vary in respect to bud length with the flower             depth equal to the bud length and the flower diameter being             slightly greater than twice the bud length, by about ⅛ inch.         -   Form.—High centered at first with petals reflexing slightly             as they start to unfurl and when full open having a             flattened convex upper profile and a flat lower profile with             petals remaining only slightly reflexed.         -   Petalage.—23 to 28.         -   Petaloids.—1 or up to 7.         -   Fragrance.—Slight.         -   Persistence.—Usually drops off cleanly in 6 to 10 days.         -   Lasting quality as cut flower.—4 to 8 days. -   Petals:     -   -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Appearance.—Inside — velvety, outside — satiny.         -   Form.—Broad fan shaped, rounded base; margins with a very             slight undulation and usually without a definitive apex on             the outer petals and sometimes a very minute serration near             the center of the outer margin on some of the inner petals;             reflexing of margins is slight.         -   Length and width in inches.—As wide as they are long — 1             inch by 1 inch to 1⅛ inches by 1⅛ inches.         -   Arrangement.—Arranged shingle-like.         -   Color.—During the first few days — inner and outer petals             are a dark cardinal red, with inner petals being between 53A             and 46A and outer petals being between 53B and 46B; the             reverse is flushed with white giving the appearance of being             near 66C as in the smaller inset image in the accompanying             drawing and occasionally with one or two of the petals             having a streak up through their center, which is a very             pale yellow, near 4D. When half blown — both inner and outer             petals are between 53B and 46B and the reverse remaining             near 66C. Seasonal differences — in October, the reverse of             the petals is only lightly flushed and always being near             53C, as depicted in the larger of the accompanying images;             the upper surface color is very near the same as in the             summer with no visible difference. Variegations — although             the upper surface of most of the petals is a solid cardinal             red some of the inner petals may have a streak of very light             yellow, near 4D, up through the center. When there are             streaked petals within a flower, there is usually 3 or more             but never more than 7 petals with the streak and they are             not usually adjacent to one another. As previously noted,             some of the outer petals may have the very light streak             going up the middle of the reverse.         -   Base of petals.—Near 4D and going about ⅕ of the way up the             petals.         -   Petals at point of attachment.—Near 6D. As the bloom ages             there is little change in the color as it lightens only             slightly, remaining near 53B.         -   General tonality.—Dark red. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Color.—Same as that of the inner petals except there is apt             to be more of the very light yellow, near 4D, streaking up             from the base to the tip.         -   Size.—Width — ¾ inch at the widest point. Length — quite             variable from ¼ inch to 7/16 inch.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens, filaments and anthers:     -   -   Arrangement.—Regularly arranged around styles. Quantity: 120             to 130.         -   Filaments.—Length — varying 4/32 to 11/32 inch. General             color — light yellow, near 8C.         -   Anthers.—Color — light yellow but slightly darker than the             filaments, near 10C. -   Pollen:     -   -   Color.—A medium orange yellow, near 21C.         -   Quantity.—Ample. -   Pistils, styles and stigmas:     -   -   Quantity.—About half or a few less than half as many as             stamens.         -   Styles.—Thin; uneven length between ⅛ and 2/8 inch. Color —             translucent, light yellow green at their base, near 2D, and             becoming just a light translucent, empire yellow, near 11D             upward from the base.         -   Stigmas.—Color — a light mimosa yellow, just a shade darker             than the upper portion of the styles, near 8D. -   Hips:     -   -   Shape.—Pumpkin shaped, smooth surface; seeds are entirely             enclosed within the hip.         -   Size.—Usually 11/16 inch in diameter.         -   Quantity.—20 or more hips per plant.         -   Color.—Becoming near 169B from the grayed-orange group.         -   Seed.—Color — a light “grayed” yellow, between 162C and             162D. Size — averaging 5/32 inch diameter, obovate shape and             irregular sides.

PLANT

-   Habit: Upright and well branched. -   Growth: Vigorous and uniformly branched, maturing at a height     between 26 and 34 inches and a width of 30 to 36 inches. -   Length and diameter of stems:     -   -   Main stems.—Potential length is unknown as the observed             plants have been cut back numerous times; usually 9/32 inch             diameter.         -   Primary laterals.—Usually 5½ inches long with a range of 4⅞             inches to 6 inches, and a diameter of 7/32 to 8/32 inch.         -   Secondary laterals.—Usually 2½ inches long and occasionally             up to 3 inches long and a diameter of 5/32 to 6/32 inch.         -   Candelabra stems (those stems which originate at or near the             base of the plant and grow straight and quickly to a length             equal to or greater than the crown of the plant and             culminate with a cluster of flowers, usually during seasons             when day and night temperatures fluctuate more than 20             degrees Fahrenheit).— 15/32 inch diameter at the base of a             mature plant and tapering by 1/32 inch for approximately             every 1¼ inches in stem length and may reach up to 32 inches             before ending at a peduncle with a cluster of flowers.             Primary laterals originating from a candelabra on a mature             plant — a diameter of 11/32 inch near the point of             attachment to the candelabra and tapering as does the             candelabra; the length of the primary laterals from the             candelabras is such as to bring them to the same length as             the candelabra to which they are attached; therefore,             primary laterals originating closer to the tip of the             candelabra to which they are attached are shorter than those             originating closer to the base. A candelabra may send out 2             or 3 laterals after the end of each bloom cycle and usually             from random locations along the stem. -   Length and diameter of flowering stem: Length averages 6 to 9 inches     with any flowering stems originating from a candelabra being greater     than 6½ inches and most often are 8½ to 10 inches long; diameter is     usually 5/32 inch near the point of attachment and tapering quickly     to and reaming at 4/32 inch to the peduncle. -   Length of internodes: Spacing between nodes is erratic with the most     frequently found lengths being 1⅛ inches and 1⅜ inches; the largest     spacing is usually near the middle of the stem; the pair of nodes     closest to the point of attachment of a stem is most often 1 3/16     inches and may occasionally be as short as ⅞ inch; the next node is     always a greater distance away; the node following that is usually     further still but not by uniform increases. The last node on the     stem before a peduncle is always a bit closer. Internode     measurements for five stems are shown here:

Stem #1: ⅞″ 1½″ 2¼″ 1⅛″ Stem #2: ⅞″ 1⅛″ 1⅜″ 1 3/16 Stem #3: 1 3/16″ 1 10/16″ 1 15/16″ 1 5/16″ Stem #4: 1 3/16″ 2¼″ 1 7/16″ Stem #5: 1″ 1 7/16″ 1 15/16″ 1⅜

Internode length on candelabras is even more erratic, sometimes gradually decreasing in length proceeding all the way up the stem, but sometimes starting from the base and decreasing in length proceeding up the stem then increasing in length around the middle of the stem and then decreasing again towards the tip. Lengths of internodes on the candelabras may be any of those measurements as given for the internodes of the stems.

-   Foliage: Near pinnately compound (some leaflets, most often the     basal ones, are not directly opposite by as much as 1/32 inch) with     5 leaflets, occasionally with 3 or 7.     -   -   Size of mature leaf.—3½ to 3¼ inches from plant stem to tip             when measured along the rachis; mature terminal leaflet — 1¼             to 1⅞ inches from base to tip and 13/16 to 15/16 inch wide             at its widest part.         -   Quantity.—Abundant, excluding candelabras, all stems usually             have 5 leaves regardless of the length of the stem but             occasionally some of the shorter stems having only 3 leaves.         -   Leaflets.—Shape — ovate, tapering towards both ends, to an             acuminate apex and a narrow oval base. Color — new foliage,             upper surface, 137A, under surface near 137B; older foliage             — a very dark green, near 147A, on the upper surface and a             medium green, near 147B, on the reverse; anthocyanin             coloration is absent. Appearance — upper surface,             semi-glossy; underside, matte with veins protruding slightly             of a light olive green, near 144C, Texture — both surfaces             are glabrous under surface — lightly textured from veins and             leathery. Edge — fine, near even serration and with stipate             glands unevenly spaced along the entire margin, often on the             outer point of the serration.         -   Petiole rachis.—Infrequently having 1 to 3 undeveloped basal             leaflets which sometimes appear as tiny leaflets and other             times as very tiny appendages, not always evenly spaced or             opposite. Color on old leaf — upper side is an dark olive             green, between 147A and 146A, underside near 144A. Color on             young leaf — upper side is a medium green, near 137C; the             underside is near 144A. Texture — moderately smooth; upper             side is shallowy grooved with some stipate glands on the             edges of the grooves; the underside is very smooth with a             few stipate glands and occasionally 1 to 3 prickles. Rachis             — length varies from 2⅝ to 2 5/16 inch.         -   Petiolules.—Color — on old leaf, upper side is a lighter             olive green than the rachis, near 147C, and the underside is             also lighter, near 144C; on young leaf, the color is the             same as that of the petiole/rachis on both surfaces. Size —             usually 1/32 of an inch long but sometimes even shorter to             the point of appearing non existent.         -   Stipules.—Very narrow, measuring 10/16 to 11/16 inch in             length; margin — fine and uneven serrulation and the very             edge tightly reflexing on the mature leaf. -   Resistance: Good resistance to downy and powdery mildews and     insects; average resistance to blackspot; no rust observed. -   Wood:     -   -   New wood.—Texture — smooth, glabrous; color — near 146A.         -   Old wood.—Color — between 147B and 146C and having areas of             very slightly raised and corky-textured surface near 199B             and, as the plant continues to age, the old wood becomes             entirely covered with the slightly raised, corky-textured             surface of near 199B. -   Thorns:     -   -   Quantity.—On main stalks and laterals, few, one or less per             inch of stem. On main stalks and laterals of candelabra             growth, ordinary for a miniature rose, having 2 or 3 thorns             per inch of stem.         -   Form.—An elliptical base tapering to a fine point, straight             and angled slightly down, being ¼ to 3/16 inch in length.         -   Color when young.—A medium shade of yellow green, near 151A.         -   Color when old.—Near 164B from the greyed-orange group.         -   Prickles.—1 to 3 occasionally found on underside of the             rachis only color: near 19D, Egyptian buff yellow. -   Winter hardiness: Tested hardy in zones 4 through 9 with ample     winter protection recommended zones 6 and colder.

Miniature Rose Patents Using the Word “minima” in Their Botanical Names as Published on the United States Patent and Trademark Office Web Site Patent Title Number (Where found) 1. PP14,894 Miniature rose plant named ‘BENminn’ (Genus/species: Rosa hybrida ‘minima’) 2. PP14,533 Miniature rose plant named ‘Benhile’ (Genus/species: Rosa ‘minima’) 3. PP13,056 Miniature rose plant named ‘SAVaralph’ (Genus/species: Rosa chinensis ‘minima’) 4. PP13,055 Miniature rose plant named ‘SAVapple’ (Genus/species: Rosa chinensis ‘minima’) 5. PP12,652 Miniature rose plant named ‘SAVacon’ (BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT: Rosa chinensis ‘minima’) 6. PP11,810 Miniature rose plant named ‘Savanade’ (BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: Rosa chinensis ‘minima’) 7. PP11,132 Miniature rose plant named ‘SAValute’ (BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: Rosa chinensis ‘minima’) 8. PP10,980 Miniature rose plant named ‘SAVabino’ (BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: Rosa chinensis ‘minima’) 9. PP9,798 Miniature rose plant named ‘Savamor’ (BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT: Type: Rosa chinensis ‘minima’) 10. PP9,790 Miniature rose plant named ‘WELangel’ (BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: Rosa chinensis ‘minima’) 11. PP9,785 Miniature rose plant named ‘SAVacook’ (BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: Rosa chinensis ‘minima’) 

1. A new and distinct variety of hardy miniature rose plant is claimed, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by dark red, non-fading blooms of hybrid tea form, showing a lighter reverse before it is full open on an upright, vigorous plant. 